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Rick Mallory Offensive Line
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ick Mallory, a veteran coach who spent five seasons as a player in the NFL before beginning his coaching career, is in his first year as offensive line coach at UAB. Mallory, 50, brings 17 years of college coaching experience with him to UAB. Mallory served 10 years as the offensive line coach at the University of Memphis before spending last season as the director of football operations at the University of Wyoming. Prior to going to Memphis, Mallory was the tight ends coach at the University of Washington, his alma mater, from 1993-98. “Rick’s experience speaks for itself,” said UAB head coach Neil Callaway. “He was an outstanding player in college and played professionally in the NFL. Watching his offensive lines play when
he was at Memphis, I was always impressed. He has an outstanding reputation and we are excited to have him on our staff.” From 2000-09 when Mallory was on the staff at Memphis, the Tigers earned five bowl berths. In 2009, Mallory’s offensive line helped pave the way for senior running back Curtis Steele to earn first-team All-Conference USA honors as Steele finished No. 7 in the NCAA in rushing and scoring. Memphis ranked No. 3 in Conference USA in rushing offense in 2009, gaining an average of 158.8 yards per game on the ground. Mallory’s ’09 offensive line allowed an average of only 1.42 sacks per game to rank No. 35 in the NCAA. The 2008 Tiger offense ranked 22nd in the nation in rushing offense and 26th in total offense, while ranking 21st in fewest sacks allowed. The year prior in ’07, Memphis ranked No. 13 in the NCAA in passing offense, No. 23 in total offense and No. 10 in fewest sacks given up. From 2002-05, Mallory’s offensive line unit blocked for running back DeAngelo Williams, who earned All-America honors in both 2004 and 2005. The 2005 Tiger offense ranked fifth in the nation in rushing offense, and the 2004 edition ranked ninth in total offense. In four of his last six seasons at Memphis, Mallory’s offensive line led Conference USA in fewest sacks allowed. During his time at Memphis, he coached six first-team All-Conference USA offensive linemen, one second-team selection, four third-team honorees and five Conference USA All-Freshman team choices. Prior to Memphis, Mallory coached at Washington for seven seasons, beginning as a graduate assistant coach in 1992. He became 94
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The Mallory File Born: Oct. 21, 1960 Alma Mater: Washington, 1983 Mallory’s Coaching Experience UAB, Assistant Coach/Offensive Line, 2011 Present Wyoming, Director of Football Operations, 2010 Memphis, Assistant Coach/Offensive Line, 2000-09 Washington, Assistant Coach/Tight Ends, 1993-98 Washington, Graduate Assistant, 1992 Mallory’s Playing Experience Washington, 1981-83 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL, 1984-88
a full-time assistant in ’93, coaching the tight ends and special teams from 1993-98. The Huskies earned five bowl berths over that six-year period. Working with the tight ends, Mallory was fortunate to have Mark Bruener leading his position for a year-and-a-half. Bruener became the Huskies’ all-time leader in receptions by a tight end, was named first-team All-Pac 10 twice and was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1996, Mallory had Ernie Conwell take over as the starting tight end, and he went on to receive first-team All-Pac 10 honors. Conwell was taken by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the draft. In 1997, a Mallory-coached tight end claimed All-Pac 10 honors for the third-consecutive season. Cameron Cleeland picked up all-league honors and was later chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Draft. The Huskies’ second tight end, Jeremy Brigham, was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round. Mallory was a three-year letterman at Washington from 1981-83. As a freshman and sophomore, Mallory played tight end. His junior year, Mallory was converted to offensive guard, and he went on to earn All-Pacific 10 Conference honors his senior season of 1983. Following his college playing career, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Mallory in the ninth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He played for the Buccaneers for five seasons from 1984-88. He and his wife Shannon have three grown sons: Ryan, Adam and Cameron; and two daughters, Naomi and Fiona. Mallory earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington in 1983.